Carlos Corberan issues ‘surprise me a lot’ Jed Wallace injury update for West Brom trip to Sunderland
Carlos Corberan has left the door open to Jed Wallace being available for West Brom against Sunderland but admitted it is “very difficult” to see him back.
The Baggies boss revealed in his pre-match press conference on 6 December that the captain is improving from the shoulder injury that kept him out against Leicester City, and hinted that the usual timeframe of three weeks to a month out will be shorter for the winger.
The Spaniard claimed it “would surprise me a lot” for Wallace to be back for the trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday (9 December), but “with his character” he couldn’t rule it out.
Corberan said, as per Birmingham Live: “Normally with Wallace’s injury he will be around one month or three weeks out, but normally with the character of Wallace you are going to reduce this time
“Every day he is feeling better, now is starting to have mobility in the arm, it means…it is very difficult to see him against Sunderland, he would surprise me a lot, but with his character and how he manages, he will reduce the time we estimated.”
Positive news
On the day where Corberan revealed that Matt Phillips is facing at least four months out of Albion action with a torn hamstring it is at least something slightly more hopeful for Wallace to potentially return slightly sooner than expected.
For the manager to be without both at once is to compound his, and their, misfortune just as West Brom head into a crucial busy period.
It would still likely be a shock to see Wallace, 29, in the squad to face Sunderland, who are somewhat of an unknown quantity for the weekend having just sacked manager Tony Mowbray.
The Baggies remain in fifth, behind the three relegated sides and Ipswich Town, despite the last-gasp defeat at The Hawthorns last time out, but there is a slight gap opening up to the top four.
Conversely the pressure is firmly on from behind so further dropped points in upcoming games is likely to see the side drop down the table.
After such a fight back to level late against the Foxes only to come away with nothing just minutes later Corberan will badly want to get back on track as soon as possible, so if Wallace could provide a fitness boost in light of the devastating blow to Phillips it would certainly help.
In other West Brom news, an update has emerged after footage suggested a flash point following dramatic conclusion.